Obama, McCain at the Negotiating Table?

The news that John McCain plans to suspend his campaign and return to Washington to work on economic bailout legislation is only a few minutes old, but it's already raised the specter of a highly unusual election-year negotiating session on Capitol Hill.

"I'm calling on the president to convene a leadership meeting of both houses of Congress, including Senator Obama and myself," McCain said moments ago. "It's time for both parties to come together to solve this problem."

Neither McCain nor Barack Obama is on the Senate Banking Committee, the lead panel in this crisis, nor is either man a member of the leadership. If they were not presidential candidates at this moment, there is little reason to think either would be heavily involved in Senate negotiations on the bailout package.

But of course, they are their parties' presidential nominees, so if they want seats at the table, their leaders have to offer them, right? It's hard to imagine the presence of McCain, Obama and their entourages of staff, security and reporters being helpful in the Senate right now, as the clock ticks down to Congress' scheduled adjournment. Presidential candidates from the Hill aren't expected to get their hands dirty in the legislative details so close to Election Day (McCain hasn't voted since April 8, and Obama's record is hardly better).

McCain does have some record of working as a bridge-builder in the Senate, most memorably on immigration and the "Gang of 14" compromise on judges. Both his campaign and Obama's said today they are working together to agree on a set of principles going forward to guide negotiations, and it seems that if the two nominees can agree on a bill, it would be almost assured to pass. But can they really agree on something? They both want to win, and even if the country benefits from passage of a compromise bill, the presidential election is a zero sum game.

"I understand that the candidates are putting together a joint statement at Senator Obama's suggestion. But it would not be helpful at this time to have them come back during these negotiations and risk injecting presidential politics into this process or distract important talks about the future of our nation's economy. If that changes, we will call upon them. We need leadership; not a campaign photo op."

What a stunt. Anything to get the vote, eh? While I commend Mr. Mccain for taking responsibility for washington, I think its all part of a bigger game to win over voters. Im not believing it and I will continue watching to see if this stunt has an effect on peoples feelings over this. Either way, I dont think its the candidates responsibility to mop up washington's mess after they are the ones who allowed it to happen. Its like shooting some one in the back and then taking him to the hospital. Hero? Hardly so.

Yeah, I don't know why the debate would need to be delayed considering the economic situation will still be here up to and after the election. Why not ask for the election to be postponed?

Second, like McCain's plan for town hall meetings, this is McCain saying 'let me tell you how the election should go' as if he dictates to his opponent how to do things.

And like that proposal this will backfire on McCain.

Congress and EVERYONE is already working nonstop on this thing. To act like they are sitting around until he deigns to bestow his presence in Washington is so egotistical it undercuts the populist message he's going for with suspending his campaign.

His butting his head in where it wasn't asked will hurt the process already going on in Washington not help.

I can understand being in DC to make sure the Bushy republicans and their fat cat friends on Wall street don't raid our treasury, but why cancel the debate?
What are McCain and Palin scared of? People finding out their policy positions?

Right, stick him in a smoke-filled room where we can't see him. He'll feel more comfortable than debating in front of the citizens of the United States of America. And then he can gloat about how is solved the crisis. Baloney

Desperate grasping at straws as his campaign goes down the drain. Reckless, impulsive and unhelpful. Just what congress needs is a grandstanding dog and pony show when they're trying to actually fix the mess that the Republicans extreme anti-government ideology has got the country into.

What happened, did McCain just realize that he would have to answer questions in public?

Classic Rove/Schmidt ploy - raise a spectacle when you are down (Celebrity, Palin pick, Lipstick, and now THIS!!??) Congress does not need presidential politics here in this decision...they need to come to a decision. having McCain and Obama there is not going to change anything. What an act of political showboating. The crazy thing is, the uneducated voters are going to lap this all up.....move the debate to washington then...

Wednesday, September 24, 2008
McCain, Trailing in Polls, Continues Campaign By "Suspending" It

John McCain, trailing by 9 points in national polls, has announced that he is "suspending" his campaign.

Having lost significant ground to Obama on the issue of the economy, and facing a potentially defining and withering debate on Friday where he would be confronted on his statements on the economy that have led to this sharp decline, McCain has attempted to change the rules of the game, to erase many past errors through a putatively "unpolitical" move--something we have seen before.

A simple question: Under the same economic conditions, if McCain had been leading, does anyone believe that McCain would have "suspended" his campaign?

This is the ultimate in cynicism--using the current conditions in order to attempt to blunt a sharp decline and try to control the media dialogue, through a political act designed to avoid a potential political debacle. He is continuing his campaign--which was leading to loss in all directions--by "suspending" it. It is an attempt to silence media criticism and questions--and to prevent a debate on these issues that for him is sharply unfavorable.

McCain is attempting to avoid the debate in the face of this decline, through the type of evasion and lack of press access and communication that has characterized his campaign. It shows an extraordinary willingness to use difficult conditions to erase and avoid political errors, and serve political needs.

He surely would like to put off the debate, and attempt to create more favorable conditions for it. Don't be cowed.

Wow. So OK, now imagine that McCain is president, and we're fighting a war, and another war pops up, and then a financial crisis, too. Would he suspend the first war to fight the second, and suspend the second to deal with the financial crisis? Or is debating Obama harder than fighting a war?

McCain and Palin is very much like Bush....McCain is even talk like him sometimes. This decision of postponing the debate is clearly another dirty political stunt. The McCain/Palin "maverick duo" (what a joke by the way...mavericks, please)
Instead of going to Washington McCain should take Palin to a fishing trip right on one the oil drilling rig way out somewhere on the ocean. You know : "where the fish are very pretty and colorful..they must like the oil rig" quoteby McCain.
Wake up you stupid religious right wingers and evangelicals..You guys wants to take this country back to the 19th century?
May be we should vote an amish president then....

McCain is pulling one crazy stunt after another. What is wrong with him?

Obama asked McCain to join him in calling for support for a bill that contains important concepts that both candidates approve, then McCain does something goofy like this. The election is going to happen in 40 days, whether McCain likes it or not. America needs to see the candidates and decide who will lead us.

McCain seems so impulsive and un-presidential. I'm beginning to wonder about his temperament. Nothing could do more harm than to "suspend" his campaign and give us the notion that doomsday is on it's way.

Part of being a leader is showing composure. Obama has it, McCain does not.

McCain clearly has the nation's interest at heart. He can help broker a compromise. His expertise in economic matters has been proven. Actually, Palin should also be brought in. She is responsible for 50% of the country's energy production, and managed several huge federal earmarks. Together they can solve the problem!

McCain and Palin is very much like Bush....McCain is even talk like him sometimes. This decision of postponing the debate is clearly another dirty political stunt. The McCain/Palin "maverick duo" (what a joke by the way...mavericks, please)
Instead of going to Washington McCain should take Palin to a fishing trip right on one the oil drilling rig way out somewhere on the ocean. You know : "where the fish are very pretty and colorful..they must like the oil rig" quoteby McCain.
Wake up you stupid religious right wingers and evangelicals..You guys wants to take this country back to the 19th century?
May be we should vote an amish president then....

We don't need you to run to the rescue of your rich buddies who own and operate all these banks John, we don't need you to help dig the hole YOU and your Republican friends dug so deep with YOUR deregulation ideas even deeper! the deregulation YOU greedy Republican IDIOTS lobbied hard for. No McCain what the American people need, the people you so mistakenly refer to as "my friends" what WE need you to do is to STAY AWAY FROM OUR MONEY, stay OUT of Washington and to keep your hands OFF our money. Nice try running and hiding from Obama too, you can run McCain but you can't hide. Why don't you just suspend your campaign for good, we don't need you and your kind, you are the ones who got America INTO this mess, you are the last ones we need to get us out. This is what McCain REALLY means when he says "Country First" run to aid of his wealthy Republican buddies! they come first right John? No debate? where's John? oh he's putting his "Country (rich friends) First" NO BAIL OUT FOR MCCAIN'S AND BUSH'S RICH FRIENDS!

While McSame may have been a good and considerate soldier, and I am sure the people around him benefited from that, this is just a ploy.

Polls came out yesterday that Obamas lead had widened to around 9 or 10% or so. The McSame campaign held a (very boring, imho, press conference that was podcasted and made available on one of the news sites - I think CNN...) challenging the numbers of that poll. That being a snooze for the average American, now, desperately, they are doing their 2nd big PR stunt (the first being the Palin nomination) - by "nobley" giving up campaigning to save the country. Baloney!

I very much agree with Sen. Reid that their return to the Senate floor would be dangerous to the country in this time of financial instability. It would also be embarrassing to them personally, if they were to go through with McSame's request.

Congress has an approval rating of 8%. That means 92% of the "people" think they aren't doing their job! You people have short term memories. Maybe Mccain is saying forget all this presidency freak show and let's really work on the problem at hand. Will the Obama liberals and media stop at nothing to raise suspicion?

"Congress has an approval rating of 8%. That means 92% of the "people" think they aren't doing their job! You people have short term memories. Maybe Mccain is saying forget all this presidency freak show and let's really work on the problem at hand. Will the Obama liberals and media stop at nothing to raise suspicion?"
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In case you haven't noticed...the Conservatives are the one's who got us in this mess to start with. How exactly does one point at the party that was out of power in congress for 12 of the last 14 years and the executive for the last 8 and say that it's THEIR fault?

Just because the mainstream media doesn't support your neo-conservative zealotry doesn't mean they are liberal...it just means they have functioning brain cells.

"McCain is open-minded and more bipartisan than Obama. I like his quick decision-making and his willingness to put politics aside for the good of the country."

Posted by: Jon

Did he sell you that Alaskan bridge? McCain knows nothing about economics. His wife wears those pants in the family, but she's not running, and they have a pre-nup, so he doesn't know how many homes or cars they have. It's idiots like you who enabled these hustlers to bankrupt the nation in the first place, by voting for them, so you should just be quiet.

This is another Mccain trick. I mean Obama calls him about a joint statement and Mccain tries to pull this?? Give me a break!! Is Mccain an Economist? Mccain should leave it to the relevant committee to iron out the Issues with Paulson. Even bush himself is not involved in the negotitations.

Great leadership. Something that has been starkly missing in the White House or Congress. If this country slips into a Depression, a staged debate will look pretty small by comparison. We have listened to two years of politician's positions in the runup to this election. A week or two actually producing tangible work in Washington is in order considering the stakes. If we are all broke because Washington fails, there won't be a lot left to preside over, McCain or Obama.

Mccain had been meeting with Romney earlier getting advice. Trust me, Mccain is not afraid to debate Obama re: national security, that's up his alley. I wasn't there and don't know who called who first, but we already have campaigns saying it was my idea, I called first, nanny nanny boo boo. It sometimes makes me wonder why we all don't vote NONE OF THE ABOVE.

I am saddened by 90 percent of these comments. Wow...I can't believe so many comments are just empty name-calling and venomous rants.

I'd love to read just ONE educated opinion from BOTH sides for once.

For you McCain Haters: McCain could be using this move could be a politcal stunt, but it could also show that he is bipartisan and willing to take some risks (which he has clearly shown his entire career) to assist in taking care of one of the largest financial crisis' the US has seen in the last century. He could be showing resolve and determination to be a strong leader.

For you Obama-Haters: Obama could appear to be out for himself and unwilling to work across party lines to resolve this problem, but in reality, how much can these two candidates help with the problem? McCain could just be luring him into a trap.

Now, take a deep breath. Look across the entire spectrum and please make comments that don't waste my time.

Wow.......both parties just put the election to the side so they can help with the Congress, I really don't know that it would be a good idea, because they might be doing this for a photo opportunity; the country would know that they are putting their differences aside and help eachother. Everybody know that the country is in turmoil, but I understand that they are trying to get this together.
And from what I hear about McCain being a punk about the debate with Obama???? He's not man enough to settle this, or just brewing a plan to bring Obama down. If he can't handle it....get out of the kitchen(lol). Just take it like a man.

My friends, I'm losing this race, the economic meltdown reflects on poor knowledge of the economy and my advisers who have lobbied heavily for these programs that are bankrupting America.
But my running mate Sarah can see Russia so please vote for her instead.
Yours, Grandpa.

My friends, I'm losing this race, the economic meltdown reflects on poor knowledge of the economy and my advisers who have lobbied heavily for these programs that are bankrupting America.
But my running mate Sarah can see Russia so please vote for her instead.
Yours, Grandpa.

My friends, I'm losing this race, the economic meltdown reflects on poor knowledge of the economy and my advisers who have lobbied heavily for these programs that are bankrupting America.
But my running mate Sarah can see Russia so please vote for her instead.
Yours, Grandpa.

Since neither Sen. Obama nor Sen. McCain is on a committee involved in this economic problem, why do either of them
need to be there. Add to this, Sen. Reid
has basicly said they would be in the way if they came back to Washington. Sen. McCain just sees an opportunity to put himself back in the headlines and he needs this because he is down in the polls.

Since neither Sen. Obama nor Sen. McCain is on a committee involved in this economic problem, why do either of them
need to be there. Add to this, Sen. Reid
has basicly said they would be in the way if they came back to Washington. Sen. McCain just sees an opportunity to put himself back in the headlines and he needs this because he is down in the polls.

me love palling. macain dumb though he give up campining and he no noting of ecconomy? he cant fix nothing send super hottie palling she can fix it she got welding goggles and big puffy hairdo and got experienced today at un so is ready to take over when macain kicks bucket. i guess have to take chance and vote palling to see if macaine kicks bucket and we get hottie presiedent. she was beauty quine of miss alaska and built big bridge to nobody so she be ekselent president and attak russia france korea anyone who no do what we tell them to do and we can torture if we feel like it. macaine palling o8!!!!

Reid is brain dead and useless, lets hear what the parties think, which will be Obama and McCain's plans. The bailout and buying AIG could have been avoided but now we have to fix it. The best way in my view is to expand Freddie and Fannie to refinance at a flat 6% all mortgages including sub-a and subprime assets. Over the course of thirty years these assets will appreciate to their value. A bailout package for a bad economy would be a plan where the first year payment is 3%, the second 6% and 7% until a 6% return is amortized. A half million homes will be on their books instead of over a million without the subprime and sub-a bailout. AIG would not pay the claims and would be solvent. The government can buy these mortgages at a 10% discount from the financials. They take a hit and the market remains stable without this liability. The governments costs will be reduced by the 10% mortgage markup and return on 6% mortgages. The refinance charges are additional payments at the end of the mortgage. All mortgages even prime can make this move and save some coin. The Fannie and Freddie would need capital provided by the treasury to cover the half million properties, which hopefully with an economic turnaround can be sold. Their way still loses too many homes for the public and the banks to be happy.

McCain was doing fine in the polls when the conventions were held. He suspended his own parties convention, taking away the opportunity for millions of people to watch him and the convention the first two days. He didnt care about the polls then, he really doesnt now. He voted for the war continuuing when the rest of you said you hated the idea - his surge plan is working. He put his beliefs and his JOB in front of his campaign ambitions.

Obama has just jumped on top of his own landmine and proven that he is indeed all TALK and no ACTION as his congressional record shows. THis is not a photo opps for McCain, he invited Obama to go with him and suspend his campaign too. No cameras are going to be in those smoke free rooms. He is one of the few men who HAS, CAN, and DOES work across both aisles. If we all agree a decision is needed, Reid and Pelosi have the bi-partisan record to prove they can get the job done. Lieberman wants him there. I GAURANTEE YOU Kennedy wants him there.

And guess what, Obama is going to lose big on this either way - if no agreement is reached but McCain was there and Obama wasnt, and 100,000 companies can make payroll on the 15th because there are no bridge loans available, OBAMA will get crushed in the election. If McCain is part of the bi-partisan leadership that gets the deal done, and Obama is not - who has the proof positive that they not only can talk about the Change that is needed, about really reaching across aisles - Who will have proved it and who will have not?

Obama supporters, it saddens me that YOU cannot put the country first. Campaigning more important than doing the job both are paid to do? When both parties need their leadership? Reid says he doesnt need Obama - you know why? He wants the credit even with Obama as President. Pelosi wants the credit. THEY dont want to share credit with Obama, let alone get upstaged by a man who actually gets real bi-partisan deals done.

Maybe you deserve to have the economy crashing around you. Maybe you deserve to have a man as President who has proven over and over again to be a great talker but woefully slow on the quickdraw in a world were good reasoned decisions must come fast.

Obama may very well have lost the election. not the overall electoral vote, but if you are in an economically depressed coal state right now - Ohio, Michigan, West Virginia, Virginia, and others - and you heard Biden's anti coal comments on top of this economic issue with Obama not caring enough to go roll up the sleeves to do some honest hard work to save Americans. Then that very very slight lead Obama has in swing states is likley going to be gone for good.

its just silly to say he and McCain shouldnt be in Washington, that other senators should be there. These are the leader we need - either one of them - and both have an obligation and an opportunity to show in real time what they are capable of. Clearly McCain is capable of putting country first, even when getting killed in the national polls (not state), and Obama who has never known anything about work over campaigning his whole life - is just stuck without knowing what to do or realizing he is missing his place in history.

This is the least presidential maneuver (by Obama) in the modern history of the American Presidential elections.

I have to admit that initially (about three days ago) I was feeling a bit upset that the two Senators were not returning to that body to help with the crisis - in the heat of the moment, the "Presidential candidates should be able to do anything" idea apparently overcame my knowledge that neither of the candidates has much of anything to do with finance.

From what I've seen, Obama's response was a bit shaky. He could've come out swinging, saying that McCain and he would only slow business down substantially.

This is what McCain removed from Obama's proposed joint statement. So I assume he doesn't believe in any of this. Who do you agree with?

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First, there must be oversight. We should not hand over a blank check to the discretion of one man. We support an independent, bipartisan board to ensure accountability and complete transparency.

Second, we need to protect taxpayers. There should be a path for taxpayers to recover their money, and to turn a profit if Wall Street prospers.

Third, no Wall Street executive should profit from taxpayer dollars. This plan cannot be a welfare program for CEOs whose greed and irresponsibility has contributed to this crisis.

Fourth, we must help families who are struggling to stay in their homes. We cannot bail out Wall Street without helping millions of families facing foreclosure on Main Street.

Fifth, we both agree that this financial rescue package should move on its own without any earmarks or other measures. We have different views about the need for other action, but this must be a clean bill.

This is a time to rise above politics for the good of the country. We cannot risk an economic catastrophe. This is not a Democratic problem or a Republican problem - this is an American problem. Now, we must find an American solutions.

McCain has suggested that he and Obama debate on the date scheduled for the VP debate. McCain is so transparent. Doesn't want Palin trying to debate

Watch video: Gov. Sarah Palin could not name a single instance in which Sen. John McCain has advocated for more regulation of the market -- a position that, in the wake of crisis in the housing and financial markets, the Arizona Senator has adopted as his own.

McCain has demonstrated with this rash move that he is only concerned with winning the election--"country" is way down the list of his priorities. His impulsivity is impossible to deny. Trying to inject presidential politics into delicate discussions that will have an overwhelming impact on all our lives is the mark of a wildly risk-prone individual, certainly not that of a leader who truly cares about people. His behavior is despicable, and his gambler nature is exactly what we don't need in the White House.

The Dems are now saying they have a bill they can get passed. How is McCain coming in at the last minute and demanding they change it before they submit it going to help anyone? He will have a chance to work on it once it's submitted in the next few days, like everyone else.

I don't see the point of his cutting all fundraising (isn't he using public funds anyway) and advertising, and his debate appearance. Wait for the bill, submit your amendments, and see what flies.

Shooting from the hip and grandstanding seem to be McCain's way of operating. Guerilla tactics to be sure, working against Obama's fund-raising advantage and likeable persona, but how about some serious discussion for a change instead of all this political theater?

I can certainly understand why Harry Reid told Obama he wasn't needed back. He hasn't done just a hell of a lot in the small time he has been a Senator and they don't need to waste experienced people to show him the ropes now.

Voting "present" like he did all those times in the Illinois legislature wouldn't be too helpful anyway.

Testing time for Obama, a game that McCain is sucking Obama as the follower instead as a leader. The unexpected thing from one is alway calculated and has an upper hand... Watch out Obama!! Move the debate into late OCtober can give McCain a surge for a debate on foreign leadership.

Friday's debate is about foreign policy and should be rescheduled; today, everyone is stressed out over the economy. They should not be discussing foreign policy when they have responsibilities in the Senate. Every economist in the world says action is needed before the weekend. Congress could sit on this for another week without a strong push from both candidates. There are still 40 days to campaign and debate.

McCain can't attend the debate and he is suspending his campagine until he can go back to Washington and talk all of his skeptical Republican friends into giving the Bush administration $700 Billion dollars (by no later than Monday) to save his pals and their tanking investment banks that produced this fundamentally sound financial crisis.

And now I hear Barny Franks says they have a proposal....several hours after McCain says hes coming to Washington....has anyone made that connection yet...Just the thought of McCain coming to Washington has goaded the Dems into acting...Must of had their proposal already ready to go...just gauging their political milage....playing games as usual....its sickening to watch...

I liked the Democratic party a lot more before it got Obotomized. I liked the Republican party a lot more before it got Evangelicized. And I certainly liked both parties' supporters a lot more before they all turned into brainwashed cultists. Are any of you true believers capable of admitting that your chosen candidate may not be inerrant? Are any of you willing to allow that the other side may have some valid points? Have you ever considered that the ends do not justify the means, but that the means in fact ARE the end (i.e.-just a nasty continuation of politics as usual)? If not, a pox on both your houses.

The debates are at night. They can do their brokering, if any, in Washington, then make it back to Mississipi for the debate.
McCain doesn't have any excuse to miss the debate, other than that he's chickening out of revealing how little he understands about the economy.

Is that how McCain will operate as President? Arbitrary quick decisions that waste millions of dollars that were devoted already to something planned well ahead of time?

McCain is the kinda guy who likes to creates mess, actually heaps of em, and wakes up in the morning to go like " my frinds, we have to put aside politics, go bipirtisan,fix this up..."!!!but the mess wouldnt be here if it wasnt for him?? he should change his attitude about how he handles things, especially when it comes to "public interest" on stake.
here is a question to you: Have u suspended talking to your wife,your children just because you have a campain to do? i dont think so...to much to be done and fixed my friend, but neither needs to be suspended...got it?so...take a deep breath...talk to your economic advisors...and take a shower...get out there and tell the people what you have got to offer in time like this when the economy is failing, and both you and Bush seem to be responsible of this mess,...plz...we need your explainations...you are a hero anyway...war hero...remember?so,u cant step back now...aint no body gonna shoot ya...

Instead of postponing the debate scheduled for this Friday night, why not change the topic from Foreign Policy to Domestic Issues, specifically the Credit Crunch and the problems in Wall Street.
Would that not be a better topic and so help the caditates put ther points forward without jeopordixing the process already going on in Washington.

I can't believe some people. I'm looking forward to seeing the dabate as well, but the importance is of less importance. We elect these guys to be there (in DC). They've been debating in the press for nearly the entire year. Is putting them in the room repeating the same rhetoric really going to be that informative? Reid is hilarious saying they don't need the distraction of presidential politics. Like it's any different than usual politics. Hell, do you really think it's a coincidence Reid has taken the same side as Obama on this issue? I'm sick of these guys pretending to look out for the country when they're only looking out for their party. I'm not sure about McCains motives either. But it seems like the right thing for both candidates to try and be involved in solving the problem than debating it (when they are of the same opinion) in another part of the country.

We've been hearing these two guys rhetoric for over a year, but never had a side by side comparison. We need that. The debates must go on.

McChicken's attempt to duck this debate is typical.

Hey, if he thinks he can do such a great job as a senator, riding in on his horse and saving the economy, then why doesn't he just quit the race altogether and continue being a senator?

In reality, it is incredibly presumptuous of the McChicken to think that he has anything constructive to offer. He isn't on the finance committee (neither is Obama) so what can he actually do? Cast a vote? Can't any messages he needs to give the republicans to get on board with the plan be communicated over the phone, the internet, or with the blackberry he invented?

-Act to ensure mortgages where sold to minorities who could not afford them.
-Act to cut off Fannie & Freddie from buying subprime backed securities, sponsored by McCain, voted against, yep you guessed it.
-Took money from Fannie & Freddie, Sen Dodd #1, guess who was number #2, yep so it ain't so. Barack America as Joe calls him.

Let’s see, every one seems to agree that the economy is on the brink of falling into a serious recession. Many jobs are at risk. There could be a run on the bank. Most people’s retirement accounts are at risk. People may not be able to get student loans, business loans, home loans, auto loans, maybe even credit cards, or even paychecks in some cases.

So answer this, given that it is a crisis as most people make it out to be, shouldn’t all the Senators and House Representatives be in Washington solving the problem and debating the solutions there? Isn’t it the primary role of Congress to pass budgets and set legislation?

So the media decides to attack the person who wants to go to Washington and work vs. someone who wants to continue campaigning (same thing as since the time he as arrived in the Senate), prepare for debates, continue fundraising, and putting on more negative attacks? If debates were so important, why has Obama run away from McCain’s challenge for face-to-face town hall style debates?

My guess is that Obama is afraid he wouldn’t know how to act without his teleprompter and prepared policy ideas that the team of 300 advisers are devising for him. He would be forced to be on his own and actually make decisions.

John McCain didn’t have to suspend campaigning. He could have gone to Washington and still accomplished the same thing if he simply wanted to pull off a “political stunt” (as the MSM wants to put it). He is putting his country first and he is trying to save your jobs.

MSM has a lot to lose if the debates don’t go on. Just think about the ratings they were hoping for. They want all that ad revenue. It’s not about what’s in the best interest for the country, it what’s best for their bottom line. What’s the difference between having the debate on Fri. vs. Wed. of the coming week? The issue could be resolved and then the proper debate can begin on how to prevent this in the future.

Based on some of the above statements, seems like some of you think that campaigning is something a President should be doing in the time of a crisis. Give me a break. The only reason why Obama didn’t agree to it was because he would be seen as a follower. Well, guess what, Obama is going to Washington tomorrow. Imagine that.

A presidential debate is going to get us nothing. A "side by side" comparison? Give me a break. There is hardly any real substance in a debate. It's time you realized you've been sucked in by the hype machine.

On the other hand, how is Washington really going to fix the problem? Greedy people loaned money they shouldn't have loaned to stupid people that borrowed money they shouldn't have borrowed. Now we expect Stupid-Greedy people to to protect us from our stupid-greedy selves.
This is insane.
When will we realize we're killing our own freedom?

I have soberly come to the conclusion that Sen McCain has become so self absorbed in this campaign that resulted in terrible decisions. How many more times will he play the "woe is me" card?
1. I've run out of money in the primaries - woe is me
2. Barack Obama is getting all the press coverage in Europe - woe is me
3. Hurrican Gustav hits when I've planned my trip to the Gulf Coast - woe is me
4. One cameraman shows up in Rochester - woe is me
5. The economy takes a nose dive and it seems America is blaming me - woe is me
6. My vp pick is making a fool of me - woe is me
I think I'll suspend my campaign to work on the bailout bill even though I'll have nothing to do when I get to Washington.

John McCain running from the debate with Barack Obama is unacceptable, and COWARDICE! There are over 350 members of congress to deal with the US economic collapse. And even more capital hill aids, advisers, and experts to deal with the economic catastrophe created by the corrupt Bush McCain presidency and the past republican controlled congress.

Every American, and TRUE! patriot needs to demand that John McCain debate Barack Obama and tell the American people how he is going to fix this economic catastrophe that he (John McCain), Bush, and the past Republican controlled congress created.

Contact the news media. Your local papers. And demand that they hold John McCain accountable to debate Barack Obama. Contact all your friends and ask them to do the same. Call your senators, and congressmen and tell them that you expect "Let Them Eat Cake" John McCain to debate Barack Obama on this economic catastrophe that John McCain and "Let Them Eat Cake" BUSH! created.

It's time to get ANGRY! America. Tell John McCain you want answers, and you want those answers NOW!

He can run. But he cant hide anymore.

What ever congress does to try and fix our stunning economic catastrophe needs to be done very carefully. Congress needs to take their time, and be sure of what they are doing. Whatever is done needs to be sharply focused at helping, and protecting the best interest of the ordinary Americans. In particular the vast American middle class. 700 billion dollars is a lot of the peoples money to spend to bail out a bunch of corrupt Bush loan sharks.

My fellow human beings, just as I warned you ahead of this catastrophic economic meltdown, I must now warn you that what is a head has the potential to be even more catastrophic than what we are going through now. The worlds geopolitical landscape has been booby trapped by the Bush McCain administration and their republican allies in congress. These booby traps are poised to spring at any time.

Fortunately the Worlds Nations have been blest with many excellent leaders (except the US) who have been careful, wise, strong, and self-restrained in dealing with the provocations, and antagonism's of the Bush, McCain administration.

Barack Obama and the democrats are your best hope now. Tell your family, friends, and everyone you know to support them as best you can, and vote for them like your life, and the lives of your loved ones depends on it. Because it does. You will not survive 4 more years of Bush McCain.

I forgot to mention that I object to those that insinuate that I don't put my country first. What responsible person would pick Palin as the vice-presidential candidate? Did you not see her interview with Katie Couric? America will weather this storm and prosper like no other time in history if we all vote for Obama/Biden on Nov 4. That is putting country first!

While the move is political (as is everything a politician does) it makes sense for both to be there because one of them will be dealing with the mess. I have a hard time blaming politicians for this one as it was investment bankers who invented these mortgage backed securities and could see the effects of their actions.

Lessons learned: Stick with a 30 year, fixed rate mortgage. Don't buy more than you can afford. The people I really feel for are those who lost their job and now face losing a house they used to to be able to afford.

Yet the fat cat CEO's whine about losing hundreds of millions but still live better than 99 percent of the rest of America. Give me a break!

Clearly John McCain knows a crisis when he sees one. I'm not speaking of our nation's economic crisis, I'm speaking of his campaign. This man is a total political opportunist who will do anything to win this election, including lie, defame and if necessary derail the bail-out negotitations in currently in Congress. He's a total disgrace.

http://www.reason.com/blog/show/129016.html
On March 31, 1999, a week before his scheduled "official announcement" confirming the months-old news that he was running for president, and a week after Bill Clinton sent bombers over Kosovo, McCain announced that "It's not appropriate at this time to launch a political campaign." How'd that work for him politically?

"He's surged in New Hampshire," brags [Warren] Rudman. "He went from 3 percent to 15 percent in just a month."

Obama spent 6 million dollars for a grand stand show of himself, now "debate show". He is not for the country. Many retired persons and there company monies are at stake. Something this important and Obama still not in attendance in Washington. All the nasty comments about McCain shows us the democtats are not caring about the U.S.A. only for them selves and socialism. Just as his uncaring about handi-cap persons and his lies in his tv adds. Obama only thinks of himself....Then he wants to change the consititution to make high school and collage kids slaves to charity....The U.S. doesn't want a dictator.......who is trying to take way our freedoms...

gramps is scared he will be forced to open his mouth and remove all doubt that he is a fool. Riddle me this how does a guy who last week said the economy was strong suddenly be a key figure in fixing what he did not even know was broke last week. This is the same level of hypocrisy that lets a guy with 7 mansions, 13 cars and a $100 million dollar drug addict mistress he left his handicapped wife for call a devoted family man with one wife, one car and one house an elitist all because he happened to go to Ivy league schools and finish first in his class. frankly I do not want dumb people like d student McCain and 6 different colleges until she passed palin sneaking into the Presidency by hiding their lack of knowledge.

The bottom line is this: it's fine if McCain wants to go to Washington to cast his vote on the bailout package, he should, and so should Obama. If the two candidates can lend a hand getting the bailout resolved, that's good too.

But neither candidate will play a leadership role in the bailout; there's a vast team working on it and ther bailout package is nearly complete.

McCain doesn't need to "suspend his campaign" to go cast his vote. That part is pure grandstand, a "look at me the great leader" political ploy.

If McCain hadn't made foolish and rash grandstand plays before this one, we might have bought it as a selfless act. But after his blustery, self-serving reaction to the Georgia/Russia conflict, and his reckless, self-serving choice of Palin, we see this "suspend the campaign" move as a political ploy.

McCain is politicizing the economy crisis for his own gain. Pretty obvious, and we aren't fooled.

Shame on McCain...doesn't he know it's not fair to shoot a deer while it is dumbfoundedly caught in the headlights?

Hey Washington Post...

“This is exactly the time when people need to hear from the candidates,” Obama said.

"If there were ever a time for both candidates to hold a debate before the American people about this serious challenge, it is now.” Reid said.

Considering the timing and similarity of the statements...even a first year journalism major could figure out that Obama, after hearing McCain's statement...had called Reid to have him tell McCain to stay home.

Obama and the democrats are always talking about bipartisanship, but look at the way they acted and what they said yesterday.
That is an example of how they define it. But there was more to it then their usual partisan diatribe.

What has Obama and them irked...was he had been talking to his cohorts in Washington, and as soon as a bill had passed...he and they would have issued a press release claiming Obama had been instrumental in the crafting and implementation of the most significant bipartisan effort in history.

You see, this plan was hatched to give cover to Obama during the news cycle after his poor performance at the upcoming debate. McCain is going to wipe the floor with him on foreign policy, and the democrats know it.

They had it timed to have the bill passed on Friday anyhow...so the next day, instead of reporting on Obama's dismal performance...they would be touting his aforementioned involvement in saving the economy. And we know the WP and NYT's would have responded in their typical lap dog way.

Too bad, McCain blew that plan right out of the political waters. The democrats tried to salvage as much of their plan as possible, by telling the media how involved Obama had been behind the scenes.

Personally, I am not buying it...I have seen that same Obama "dog and pony" show before. Like when he claimed:

"Now, in terms of knowing my commitments, you don't have to just look at my words, you can look at my deeds. Just this past week, we passed out of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee, which is my committee, a bill to call for divestment from Iran, as a way of ratcheting up the pressure to ensure that they don't obtain a nuclear weapon."

Problem is...he isn't even a member of the Senate Banking Committee...and yet it didn't keep him from claiming it was his committee and implying it was his bill.

You know, not everyone is dazzled by his words...some of us have long known the Emperor isn't wearing any clothes.

What is Obama doing for you while he is campaigning? He is not even present to give his great financial wisdom that he and the Democrats say he has. If he is such a great leader why is he not focusing on the greatest issue at hand since the great depression? Why is he not putting his wonderful debating skills to use bringing the democrats and republicans together to figure out a way to better the American public, the middle class, and the working people? So Obama is telling all of use that the issue of the economy; which the media has taken hold of and has pushed onto people as the next great depression in which the American public has been feeling the pinch and whom are scared and frightened about, is the fears of Americans are not important. That he has been working on this debate so much that he needs to put it on because he didn’t waste his time on learning foreign policy to worry about what the American public is worried about. He shows that he is only worried about himself and being the president. Just as the media is only worried about their programming schedule; "Every network in America has that time laid out," Fox News anchor Shepard Smith said on the air Wednesday. "There are thousands of people en route to Oxford, Miss., at this point. For seven months they've been working on this." Who really cares about what you want…

Obama says that; “It's my belief that this is exactly the time when the American people need to hear from the person who, in approximately 40 days, will be responsible for dealing with this mess”. The problem is Mr. Obama the debate is not about the economy…it’s about foreign policy! In my opinion that is the Presidential stage and McCain is coming out ahead because he is putting the American public first and is trying to force a truce between republicans and democrats. Weather you like his tactics or not is put pressure on the Democrats to work more with the republicans to move this issue along. The Democrats do not want to look as if they are stalling this issue. Plus, they don’t want this debate to be put on hold and have it on their heads.

"He then said I would actually also like to look at us potentially suspending campaigns and pushing debates off. What I suggested to him was, well, why don't we get the joint statement out first and our staffs will discuss this," Obama said. "I think the only -- the only possible miscommunication might have been how quickly there was an announcement [by McCain] and somebody was on television. I think probably my assumption was that the joint statement would go out initially," said Obama.

First things first, Mr. Obama…everyone knows what happens when you assume something. Secondly, to be completely honest; who care who came up with the idea? It’s not who thought it up, it’s about who took the initiative to go out on a limb and take the bulls by the horn to try and solve the problem. Barry Obama is acting like a grade school kid who needs attention and praise. Grow up and do the job you think you deserve!

I don’t believe anything McCain says now or then. The story about him telling his captors he didn’t want to go home unless others went home doesn’t make sense. As a 23 year vet, your enemy didn’t say to you, “you can go home because you daddy is a big wig in the military.” If anything, it was more reason to keep him for interrogation. The story is full of holes and all we have is McCain’s word that it happen.

It is unfortunate McCain was a POW, but McCain is an opportunist then as he is now. A man of any integrity does not approve such low blow campaign ads, distort the truth, and out and out lie as he has in this campaign. I don’t care if you feel Obama has done the same. As a military man, we still maintain our integrity no matter how dishonest the enemy is. McCain’s campaign character does not reflect the integrity of a true hero.

I want proof from McCain that someone in the enemy camp said he could go home. McCain, do you really expect veterans, like me, believe that? When in history has the enemy told a captive he could go home? You have proven your word means nothing now and I suspect you took the opportunity to distort your story then for political purposes, as you seem to be doing now. Country first, if it advantages McCain, is your true motto.

I don’t believe anything McCain says now or then. The story about him telling his captors he didn’t want to go home unless others went home doesn’t make sense. As a 23 year vet, your enemy didn’t say to you, “you can go home because you daddy is a big wig in the military.” If anything, it was more reason to keep him for interrogation. The story is full of holes and all we have is McCain’s word that it happen.

It is unfortunate McCain was a POW, but McCain is an opportunist then as he is now. A man of any integrity does not approve such low blow campaign ads, distort the truth, and out and out lie as he has in this campaign. I don’t care if you feel Obama has done the same. As a military man, we still maintain our integrity no matter how dishonest the enemy is. McCain’s campaign character does not reflect the integrity of a true hero.

I want proof from McCain that someone in the enemy camp said he could go home. McCain, do you really expect veterans, like me, believe that? When in history has the enemy told a captive he could go home? You have proven your word means nothing now and I suspect you took the opportunity to distort your story then for political purposes, as you seem to be doing now. Country first, if it advantages McCain, is your true motto.

I tire of the rabid far left attacks on McCain. He is a senator and he has been asked to tell teh Democrats in Congress what his position is. He is the Republican nominee and leader of his party. He is also very aware of the history of the sub-prime market and financial system that has led to this crisis. Politics can be part of his decision to go to fullfill his senatorial duties, that is true, but maybe it is also the right thing to do. The Democrats are benefiting from the economic crisis and may even be motivated to delay the process for personal political gain.
As such, he really doesn't have a lot of options. Lay off get it solved and then let's get back to campaigning and the debates and the elections.
Senator Obama's position, in my opinion is less understandable. Maybe he'll vote "present" or "absent" when it comes to pass the bail-out so that he can keep his name off the bill. In this situation, I'm with McCain. I'D RATHER SEE HIM LOSE THE ELECTION than LOSE THE COUNTRY.

I AM SO ANGRY!!!!
How despite the tens of thousands of federal employees and hundreds of elected leaders in Washington DC who we pay to keep things together that apparently the country is so gone to hell that two men cannot be spared for 48 hours to debate for the American people??!! Even communist countries are more stable than this!!!

So when does Congress work on a Friday night anyway? Sounds like McCain is running scared because he knows nothing about the economy. The people would like to hear what he has to say about how he would handle a crises, especially economically.It's not always about war, but can be a casualty of it. Can't do 2 things at once I guess. Kinda like Palin-she doesn't seem to want to talk about anything with any substance either. Bring on the DEBATE!

I think so many people are beginning to see through Mccain...This man has issues if he thinks America will buy his need to be in Washington. I have first hand information that this is because he knows he will not do well in the debate. This is the kind of stunts he would pull if he were president. I am glad he's not going to be.

McCain is desperate. He will pull any publicity stunt, it seems, to try to win this election. Obama HAS been very involved in trying to craft a decent piece of legislation to resolve the Wall St. crisis. His team is LEADING the effort. The Republicans in Congress want to vote no on a bailout so they can use the bailout in their campaigns back home. They want to stick the Dems with having to own the bailout. McCain's job is to persuade the Republicans in Congress to vote for a bailout. But he is very afraid of doing that for the same reason the Republicans in Congress are afraid to vote for a bailout. American voters are pissed off. We are tired of being screwed by the Bush Republican administration. If McCain wants to show leadership and a true maverick nature, he should call for Bush and Cheney to resign in disgrace.

It is being leaked from his campaign people that he knows he will not do well in these debates. He knows he needs to pull a rabbit out of a hat if he is to win this election. This is not a rabbit or hat. This is a ploy and the people do see through it, as is evident by the bulk of these comments.

Quote: "Clearly a desperate attempt by McCain to regain some bit of momentum. Makes him look either like a coward (afraid to debate) or like he's desperate to control the narrative again (i.e. Palan pick)."

Gain more momentum, A.L.? McCain was leading in the average of polls Monday:

Quote: "In national surveys, McCain leads by 2 points, 47 percent to 45 percent, according to CNN's poll of polls released Monday night."

Some other polls have McCain leading by 5 points. Which polls do you want to pick??

He can not seem to have coherent and consistent answer to any issue, but has propensity to blurt comments that he believes will get him attention at any given moment. Perhaps old age has something to do with it (danger signs already), but more importantly the fellow does not strike me as being intelligent or even wise.

This USA deserves much, much better than McCain.

This is not an insular country, the world is getting ever more competitive, the competing countries (including China) are headed by younger, intelligent, and vigorous leaders, and the US needs to counter all those.

Dr.T wrote - "He is also very aware of the history of the sub-prime market and financial system that has led to this crisis. "

WHere the hell have you been so long. mcCain hardly knows anything about the financial system mess . He has been acting like babbling buffoon. Even conservative sources like the Wall Street Journal and George Will have lamented his ignorance and poor leadership.

The debate is at 9PM and runs for 90 minutes. How difficult would it be to participate in Congressional activities during the day and fly into Oxford, MS for the debate, then back to DC? Is McCain too old and feeble to handle that? Shouldn't the President be capable of something so simple?

You can not give tons of money without a plan to keep the company solvent. If so, be ready to loose it and keep giving till you are broke. Anyone with kids knows this, without a job-income coming in, what you give to your kids will likely be gone forever.

Without American jobs with benefits, decent health care coverage, cheap energy no one can spend extra to buy products, bonds or stocks, to keep a company in business.

It emerged in the White House briefing today that McCain called Bush and asked him to initiate a meeting today at 4 pm at the White House, putatively for him to "deal with" the crisis.

That is, McCain asked Bush to help him create an avoidant trifecta: To try ti\o lend some credence to McCain's desperate assertion that a suspension of his campaign is necessary, in effect avoiding a debate in which he would face critical questions about his stance on the economy; attempting to co opt the financial crisis thereby trying to put an end to his plummeting in the polls created by his flailing positions on the economy--perhaps best reflected by his statement days ago that the "fundamentals of the economy are strong"; and, while avoiding his own debate, also buying more time for Sarah Palin after her embarrassing photo op at the UN yesterday, by moving her debate forward as well.

Here's how it happened, according to Q and A at the WHB:

McCain emailed Bush asking for the 4 P.M. meeting. Now, one reasonably might ask, why is today such a necessity for McCain, if his interest is solely the national good?

Because it is before the debate. McCain hopes to stage a meeting at the White House, thereby, with Bush's cooperation, lending plausibility to his claim to need to suspend his campaign. Then, if Republicans, in their own electoral interest, can be persuaded to come to agreement, before the debate, he would claim--in an act of utter stage management--to have "resolved" the crisis. Thereby hoping to take the heat off on his past careening stances and sliding polls and staunch the bleeding on the polls--before the debate.

This is Kabuki Theatre masquerading as substance--no different than what we saw at the U.N. yesterday.

It is utterly stage managed, utterly cynical, and utterly unrelated to the substantive deliberation necessary to actually resolve these matters on the merits and for our nation's future, rather than for short-term and desperate political advantage.

These occurrences are equally important for what they indicate about McCain's governing style as they are for their impact upon democratic process: impulsive acts that rely on drama and theatrical posture rather than substantive reasoning and long-term deliberation; a strong willingness to sacrifice substantive reasoning, deliberative process, and even prior structures and agreements to immediate political need; an attempt to reach outcomes through last minute stage management rather than substantive argument.

These should create deep concern for anyone who wishes for a change in governmental process from the past eight years.

We have an economy, rather than a campaign, to rescue. Putting nation before politics means putting all attempts to resolve it before political attempts to co opt it--and to move towards one's commitments, rather than towards a more immediate and short-term salvation.

It emerged in the White House briefing today that McCain called Bush and asked him to initiate a meeting today at 4 pm at the White House, putatively for him to "deal with" the crisis.

That is, McCain asked Bush to help him create an avoidant trifecta: To try ti\o lend some credence to McCain's desperate assertion that a suspension of his campaign is necessary, in effect avoiding a debate in which he would face critical questions about his stance on the economy; attempting to co opt the financial crisis thereby trying to put an end to his plummeting in the polls created by his flailing positions on the economy--perhaps best reflected by his statement days ago that the "fundamentals of the economy are strong"; and, while avoiding his own debate, also buying more time for Sarah Palin after her embarrassing photo op at the UN yesterday, by moving her debate forward as well.

Here's how it happened, according to Q and A at the WHB:

McCain emailed Bush asking for the 4 P.M. meeting. Now, one reasonably might ask, why is today such a necessity for McCain, if his interest is solely the national good?

Because it is before the debate. McCain hopes to stage a meeting at the White House, thereby, with Bush's cooperation, lending plausibility to his claim to need to suspend his campaign. Then, if Republicans, in their own electoral interest, can be persuaded to come to agreement, before the debate, he would claim--in an act of utter stage management--to have "resolved" the crisis. Thereby hoping to take the heat off on his past careening stances and sliding polls and staunch the bleeding on the polls--before the debate.

This is Kabuki Theatre masquerading as substance--no different than what we saw at the U.N. yesterday.

It is utterly stage managed, utterly cynical, and utterly unrelated to the substantive deliberation necessary to actually resolve these matters on the merits and for our nation's future, rather than for short-term and desperate political advantage.

These occurrences are equally important for what they indicate about McCain's governing style as they are for their impact upon democratic process: impulsive acts that rely on drama and theatrical posture rather than substantive reasoning and long-term deliberation; a strong willingness to sacrifice substantive reasoning, deliberative process, and even prior structures and agreements to immediate political need; an attempt to reach outcomes through last minute stage management rather than substantive argument.

These should create deep concern for anyone who wishes for a change in governmental process from the past eight years.

We have an economy, rather than a campaign, to rescue. Putting nation before politics means putting all attempts to resolve it before political attempts to co opt it--and to move towards one's commitments, rather than towards a more immediate and short-term salvation.

The 1992 Presidential Debates with Ross Perot were not dull. His warnings have now come true. Replace John McCain with Ron Paul. Add Ralph Nader and Cynthia McKinney. Barack Obama must earn his victory, not win by default.

The 1992 Presidential Debates with Ross Perot were not dull. His warnings have now come true. Replace John McCain with Ron Paul. Add Ralph Nader and Cynthia McKinney. Barack Obama must earn his victory, not win by default.

I think McCain pulled a shrewd move by suspending the campaign to go back to the Senate and work on the financial crisis. In politics perception is important, and with this move, he was able to convey his strengths (maverick, putting country above self, etc.) and putting the Obama camp on the defensive.

True, McCain does not sit on the on the relevant committee that deals with the issue, and it is also true that a President should be able to multi-task. However, this plays onto McCain's image as patriot and a swipe at Obama as a wet-behind-the-ears pretender.

However, I think Obama makes a valid point on the debates. First and foremost, this is a debate on foreign policy-- allegedly McCain's home turf. It shouldn't be too hard for him to deal with the financial crisis negotiations and debate on foreign policy (McCain's perceived strength). Second it is only a two-hour flight to Mississippi from Washington DC. It is feasible for both to leave say at 5 p.m. from Washington and arrive in Mississippi in time for the debates, have the debate and be back in Washington by midnight.

Finally, I can understand how disuptive the preprations at Ole Miss have been to abruptly cancel debate. When I was in college (mind you, prior to 09/11/01) the President received the Japanese Prime Minister and the security requirements were a headache. People living in dorm rooms overlooking the route the President would take had to leave, Secret Service personnel everyhwere, etc. I believe Ole Miss has spent about $5 million to set up this debate, and probably a big part of those expenses have been on security. To now cancel the debate, especially when modern air transport makes the trip to Tupelo, MS a relatively quick hop is foolish.

First, the issue of debates. McCain has no legislative role in the committees reviewing the bailout. He could easily do as much from the road as in DC. He is using this STUNT to avoid a much larger issue. That of Rick Davis' company, owned by his campaign manager, taking millions from Freddie Mac while working for McCain.

Secondly, McCain's polling numbers are in a free fall due to all the bad press about Palin. She came with a huge amount of baggage that Schmidt can lie under the rug. The press has reacted by getting tough on their campaign which McCain did not expect as he has had them all snowed. He had to change the narrative or the race would be lost in the next week. Thus, "CRISIS" and a trip to DC along with suspending campaign.

Third, McCain is losing this as he tries newly spun creations on us every day and just can't get traction. His inept campaign needs the time to regroup and he is going to DC to distract attention from that fact.

The list goes on and keeps getting worse. There is Carly Fiorino with her huge CEO golden parachute of over 20 Million and Keating Five comparisons waiting in the wings. McCain is toast and his antics won't stop that. They just dig the hole deeper.

Jon, McCain did not put politics to the side he placed square in front. He is like Ceasar refusing the crown, pretending to be noble but coveting it with all his heart. He is a samll man without any honor left in him.

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McCain is open-minded and more bipartisan than Obama. I like his quick decision-making and his willingness to put politics aside for the good of the country.

McPhony went to Washington and stirred things up. Now the bipartisan negotiations that were bearing fruit before McPhony landed in Washington on Thursday are all up in the air. He basically went there to put an end to bipartisanship.

McCain told Letterman he was going to Washington when he was actually going to the Katie Couric show. What a phony guy. McCain wants to cancel the debate. We know where McCain will be at that time. He will be in some motel, drilling Sarah Palin's oil field. To know how this dirty old man's mind operates one needs to look at the joke he said about a girl who got raped by a gorrilla.

McCain is lost,he knows he's losing and he's just desperately trying to get some voters. In all cases i doubt he will miss the debate with Obama; he's not stupid, he's getting evil advice and he's trying to confuse everyone. For sure he will show up tonight because he won't let Obama talk infront of millions by himself; but he will be crashed by Obama; he looked for it and he'll get it!!!

What Democrats and Independents still out there on the fence need to understand is, even if Hillary was your choice, like she was mine, or you are older or white and just can''t feel cozy about Obama this race, this election, this country is not about Obama. It is about all of us and when you compare values and really look at who you are about to vote for or not vote for, Obama is the clear choice if you really want to see our country prosper and grow once again. Some of you may be lucky enough to have jobs, retirement or investments to fall back on, but millions of your fellow Americans don''t after what Bush and the Republicans have done to the USA. Do the right thing, not because you love Obama, but because you love America. Obama gives us a much better chance at survival in these impossible times for so many Americans. Don''t forget Biden either, there is no way no how Biden will allow the corruption, greed and ignorance we have seen in DC continue and he is a seasoned expert on foreign affairs. The Democratic ticket is a good one this election, don''t be on the wrong side of history and miss the chance to say you voted for the right team.

Barack Obama and John McCain shouldn't get directly involved in the ongoing "bailout" package negotiations. Rather, the responsibility should be handled by people assigned for it. Otherwise, unnecessarily they would get embroiled in yet another otherwise unavoidable controversy and might harm their respective chances in the Nov4 polls. And, the real culprits will simply go scott-free.